The State | IN BRIEF / STATEWIDE : FRESNO

Police Chief to Retire After Tumultuous Year

Police Chief Ed Winchester announced plans to retire in September or October after seven years on the job.

Winchester, 53, said the events of 2000 represent the low point of his time as chief, but he denied being pushed out of office.

The year dawned with explosives being stolen from a remote police bunker. Teenagers admitted to the crime. Then officials discovered that an assault rifle, 11 pounds of cocaine and more than $200,000 was missing from department property rooms.

Mayor Alan Autry said he is inclined to hire a successor from within the department.